Clarinet



Jan. 6, 1959 R. MAzzEo 2,867,146

CLARINET Filed Aug. l5, 1956v y 5 SheelZs-Sheefl 1 Jan. 6, 1959 R'. MAzzEo 2,867,146

CLARINET yFiled Aug. 15, 195e .s sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 6, 1959 R. MAzzEo 2,867,146

CLARINET Filed Aug. 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lamented Jan. e, 195e CLARNET Rosario Mazzeo, Boston, Mass.

Application August 15, 1956, Serial No. 604,163

16 Claims. (Cl. 84-382) The present invention relates to improvements in a clarinet and more particularly in a Boehm system clarinet.

It is a principal object of the inventionjto provide an improved control means for musical instruments such as the clarinet.

More particularly it is an object to provide in a Boehm system clarinet a novel and improved construction and arrangement of the parts by means of which certain of the notes may be played in a new manner which is in addition to the way they are at present played upon the instrument, so as to facilitate the performance of certain movements on the instrument which are at the present time extremely diticult to negotiate.

A feature of the invention consists in the re-arrangement and interconnection of certain of the operating parts to provide certain improved alternative and accessible ways of rendering the throat note Bb which is normall written on the third line of the treble clef.

Another feature of the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the operating mechanism of the clarinet to provide for an alternative way of rendering the forked Eb, Bb on a clarinet which is keyed in accordance with the improved Boehm system.

Another feature of the invention consists in the iniproved arrangement of the Ct, Git key which, in accordl ance with applicants improvement, may be activated automatically by the Ab, Eb key lever of either hand little finger.

Another feature of the invention consists in the addition of an additional low Eb, Bb lever 'which is to be played by the left hand little finger and is freely available as an alternative to the Eb, Bb lever normally played by the little finger of the right hand.

Another feature of the invention consists in the interconnection ofthe Ftl, Cit lever and the low E, B key. ln a Boehm system clarinet the low Fit, Cit key is normally operated to close one hole and open another. The low E, B key is independently operated. In accordance with the present invention both of these keys have been changed and interconnected so that the present low E, B key not only closes its holes as normally, but also closes the Fit, Cit tone hole opened by the pressing of the Fit, Cit key so that the Fit, Cit key may be held down when the low E, B key is played.

Still another feature of the invention consists in the novel arrangement of the key which overlies the F thumb hole and which normally takes ythe form of a ring. in the illustrated construction a plate hasl been substituted for this thumb hole ring. j

With the above noted and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the several features of the invention consist in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described which together with the advantages to be obtained thereby 'will be readily understood by one skilled from the following description l taken in connection with accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an improved Boehm system clarinet embodying therein in a preferred form the Patent 6 several features of the invention, the upper and lower joints, and bell of the clarinet;

Fig. 2 is a full size view of substantially the entire upper joint of the clarinet, certain of the parts having been removed and sectioned for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing particularly the C tone hole closed by the third iinger left hand, and the overlying ring;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 illustrating particularly the pad and hole covering lever controlled by the C ring operated by the third ngerleft hand;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2 illustrating particularly the Bb hole, and its covering lever and pad;

Fig. 6 is a side view of substantially the same parts shown in Fig. 2 looking from the right;

Fig. 7 is a full size plan view of particularly the lower section of the clarinet shown in Figure l;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7 looking from the right; j

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7 to illustrate particularly the connection between the low Eb, Bb lever operated by the little finger right hand and with the newly added Eb, Bb lever which is operated by the little iinger left hand;

Fig. l0 is a sectional View taken on line 10 l0 of Fig. 8 illustrating particularly the Cit, Git lever operated by the left hand, and the connection provided therefrom to the D ring operated by the second finger left hand; and

Fig. ll is an exploded view showing the improved organization and articulation of the various operating parts which permitan improved fingering of the instrument for the control of the Bb tone hole andits pad, for the more efficient use of the forked Eb, Bb, an improved finger arrangement for playing the note A second space, treble clef, for the production of an alternative Cit, Gil when' so desired, land for the alternative playing of low Eb, Bb by the little linger of either hand.

The Bb clarinet illustrated in the drawings as embodying in preferred form the several features of the presentV invention is constructed in accordance with the improved Boehm system, but with the improvements hereinafter more fully described to substantially improve the ilexibility and quality of the instrument while permitting the instrument to be played if so desired in the normal and accustomed manner of those skilled in the use of the clarinet.

The Bb clarinet shown in the drawings comprises generally an upper joint 20 and the usual lower joint 22 and a bell 25. The upper joint contains the usual first, second, and third left hand linger holes indicated respectively at 26, 2S and 3@ together with their normally raised overlying ring levers. In the lower joint are found the usual first, second and third right hand finger holes, 38, 40, and 42 together with the usual overlying normally raised ring levers indicated respectively at 44, 46 and 48. The instrument is also provided in the upper joint with theusual thumb hole 5t), which with the present construction is adapted to be covered by a normally raised thumb plate 52 carried on a rocker arm 54 and pivot shaft 56 and the usual adjacent register key S8. There is also provided in the upper joint of the instrument the usual Bb tone'hole indicated at 60 and its covering pad 62, which Vis mounted on a transversely extending Bb covering lever lever 64 to an open position by means of a light spring 76 (Fig. 2). The Bb cover lever 64 is, however, held normally in a closed position by means of a secondshaft 78 which is articulated with relation to shaft 74 to rock both shafts clockwise as viewed in Fig. ll. Rock shaft 78 is acted upon in said clockwise direction by a relativelyheavy spring 80 which acts to keep the Bb cover lever 64 closed.

Shaft 7S has secured thereto the C ring lever 36 actuated by the third finger left hand, and associated tone hole cover lever 82, these levers being normally held in open position by the action of heavy spring 80.

The D ringlever 34 actuated by the second finger left hand, and its associated tone hole lever` 84 (Fig. l) are carried on a separate longitudinally extending shaft 66 which underlies thez shaft 3 0. The E ring lever and associated tone hole lever 83 (Fig. ll)l are carried on a shaft 90 which is aligned with but separate from the shaft 86,. The shaftsv 78, 36 and 90 are, individually biased in a clockwise direction by heavy springs which tend to keep the respective ring levers 36, 3d and 32 mounted thereon raised. t

Pressing the ring lever 34- by the second finger left hand permits the Bb tone hole closing lever 64 to be opened. The rock shaft 86 carries at its upper end a detent arm 92 which overlies the pad of tone hole closing lever 82. With this arrangement it will be evident that a counterclockwise closing movement of the D ring lever 34E- and shaft S6 will produce a positive counter-clockwise movement of shaft 78 and permit the Bb tone hole cover lever 64 to open under the inliuence of the light spring 76.

Each of the right hand finger hole ring levers 44, 46 and 48 are mounted on a rock shaft 94 carried on the lower joint of the clarinet. Shaft 94 is connected by means of an articulated joint generally indicated at 96 with rock shaft 86 so that the. pressing of any one of these ring levers by the fingers of the right hand will rock shaft 94 and shaft 86 therewith in a counter-clockwise direction to the closed4 position of these parts, this as above described, permitting thel Bb tone hole cover lever 64 to move to its open position.

With applicants improved construction, the Bb tone hole covering lever 64 may be released for movement to its open position to open the Bb tone hole 60, also by the pressing of the Clt, Gil key 93y by the little finger left hand, or by the alternatively available CiLG key 100 right hand, or by pressing ofthe low Ab, Eb lever 1192 by the little finger left hand, or by pressing the corresponding low Ab, Eb lever d by the little finger right hand. Bb tone hole 60 may also be opened by. pressing r the Eb, Bb lever 107 as hereinafter described. The mechanlsm by which any of these keys may be rendered operatlve to open the Bb tone hole 60 will be described in connection with Figs. 7,18, 9 and ll. The Cil, Git lever 98 is mounted on the upper end of a longitudinally eX- tendmg rock. shaft 106 carried on the lower joint 22 of the clarinet. The rock shaft 106 and associated parts including` Ct, Gllevers and 100 are rocked clockwise to a raised position and the usual Cil, Gf tone hole covering lever 10S-is closed by means of a heavy spring, not shown. The Cil, Git lever. 98 is operatively connected to shaft 86, which carries the D ring 34 actuated by the' second finger left hand, by means of an arm 110 which is secured to the lower end of the shaft 86 and engages beneath the Cf, Gil lever 98. With this arrangement it will be evident that a counter-clockwise movement of the rock shaft 106 .ishproduced by pressing either of the Cit, Git keys 98, 100, will correspondingly rock' shaft 6, and the action of arm 92 on the D tone holeV cover lever S2 will rock shaft 78 counter-clockwise, so that shaft 74 and the Bb tone hole cover lever 64 are permitted to move to open position under the influence of light'spring '76.

With the present construction, the low Ab, Eb lever` 104, manipulated by the little linger right hand, is availableto openthe Bb tone hole 60. When lever 10d-is pressed a lug 114. on the finger pad of lever 10.4.engages with a curved arm 116 on the lower end of shaft 106, causing the shaft to be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction acting as above to open the Bb tone hole 60.

The associated low Ab, Eb lever 102 controlled by the little linger of the left hand is interconnected in the usual manner with the lever 104 so that the two levers are depressed together by means of a lateral extension of lever 104 which is operatively connected with the tail of lever 1612 which turns on a pivot 118 (see Fig. ll). The Bb tone hole 60 can therefore be opened by pressing the left low Ab, Eb lever 102.

With the present construction the Eb, Bb lever played by the third finger of the left hand, and designated at 107 is also available to open the Bb tone hole 60. The Eb, Bb lever 107 overlies the D tone hole covering lever 84 and acts when pressed to engage with lever 84 thus rocking the second finger hole left hand. rock shaft to the pressed position, which in turn act' through rock shaft 78 to permit Bb cover hole lever 64 to be opened.

With the present construction a second low Eb, Bb lever to be played by the little finger left hand is provided at 119 arrangedto turn on pivot 119er (see Figs, l, 7 and. 8). This lever is pivoted intermediate its length and the end thereof designated at 11%, is engaged beneath arm 120 carried by the support shaft for the right hand low Eb, Bb lever designated at 117. This construction has the advantage of allowing greater facility of fingering.

It will be understood that the above description is limited primarily to a description of the newly added parts, the conventional elements of the improved Boehm system clarinet being set forth only so far as is necessary to indicate the connection of the present invention therewith.

As above stated when the Bb tone hole 60 is opened by the raising of the Bb cover lever, as above described, in combination with the pressing of the A throat key'66, the throat tone Bb is produced. In the event thattl'ie Bb tone hole 60 is opened by any combination of pressed rings, levers, and keys as above set forth, but without pressing the A throat key 66, the tone Apwill be produced.

With the improved system above described, the operation of any of the severalrings, keys and leverswhich would permit the Bb hole 6@ to be. uncovered, willfbe invalidated, however, whenever the thumb key 521is' pressed or when the E ring 32 is pressedi by the lirst finger left hand. T oV this end a detentV lever 124V is providedsupported intermediate its length on pivot pin- 126 and: arranged at one end to overliepad 62 of thexBb tone holc cover lever 64. The opposite end ofttheV detentlever 124ik is arranged to be engaged byra downwardly extending arm 128 on shaft 90 andalsob'y anupwardly extending arm 130 carried on the pivot ypin 56e for the tone key 52. The pressing of ring lever 32 which rocks shaft 90 counter-clockwise will raise the detent lever 124 to press the pad 62 securely against the Bb tone hole 60. Similarly, the pressing of the thumblever 52 by rocking the pivot pin 56 and arm 130 causer.- the detent lever 1.2-1- to bc rocked locking the Bb cover lever 64 and pad 62 in the closed position. A spring 131 secured to the underside of detent arm 124 holds the detent lever- 124 at rest against the pad 62 thus eliminating any play in the mechanism.

In order to bring out more fully the operation of the clarinet under various operating conditions in which the several improvements herein disclosed are most advantageously employed the operation of the clarinet under such conditions will lne-briefly described as follows:

Bb, third line G clef, is now, in accordance withv applicants improved system lingered with the throat note A key 66, and the three rings 44, 46 and 48 of the right hand plus the right hand F, C key 136; This may be regarded as fundamental fingering, which, however, may be variedv to suit the particular playing conditions.' Thev idea, for

example, for the fingering for this Bb should include the .9 throat note key plus any ring or key which has been used in the immediate previous note and which is to be used in the immediately succeeding note. With the construction shown there are a total of 309 ways of playing this Bb, so that it should be evident that the combinations available are practically limitless for all practical purposes.

The note A, second space, treble clef, though normally fingered with the A throat key, may also be played with the first, second and third rings, 44, 46 and 48, played by the lingers of the right hand plus the right F, C key 136 or, left F, C key 133. Again it will be understood that the theory of the fingering for this alternatively produced note A is exactly the same as that used to play the Bb described above. .in other words, the note A is played with those rings and keys which were used immediately preceding the A note, and which are also to be used for the note immediately following the A.

The arrangement of the Cit, Git key which is articulated with relation to the Ab, Eb levers 102, 104 played by the little fingers of the left and right hand, respectively, has the particular advantage that it is possible to play C# or Gti without the necessity of pressing the Cit, Git key 98 with the little finger left hand if the note sequence makes the use of the little finger, left hand awkward.

The arrangement of the Cit, Git lever 98, which is articulated with relation to the D finger ring 34 played by the second finger left hand by means of arm 110 on shaft 86 extending against the under side of key lever 98, has the particular advantage that it makes the playing of an Eb and Bb possible in the respective registers, pressing also the Cil, Gti key 98 which produces an alternate sound of more brilliance than the usual forked Eb, Bb.

It will be understood that with the improved Boehm system Eb and Bb are produced in their respective registers more effectively by the simultaneous pressing vof the thumb key 52 and rings 32 and 36 controlled by the first and third fingers respectively of the left hand. When the Cit, Git key 98 is used in combination, the result is to close the ring 34 controlled by the second linger left hand and the adjoining cover lever 34 controlled thereby, at the same time to raise the cover lever 108 which is normally opened by the Cit, Git key 98.

in the playing of certain passages including loW'Eb or throat Bb, diiculty is sometimes presented because of the necessity of using'the little finger right hand for this note. In applicants improved construction a second Eb, Bb lever 119 has been added which is alternatively available for the playing of such passages. n

A further improvement consists in the interconnection of the Fi?, C# lever 140, and the low E, B key 142.

1n the improved Boehm system clarinet, the low Fit, Cil lever 140 is normally operated to close one hole 144 and to open another at 146. The low E, B key 142 is independently operated to close two holes 148, 144.

ln accordance with the present invention, both of these keys (low E, B key 142 and low Fit, Cit key 140) have been changed and interconnected so that pressing of the low E, B key 142 not only closes its holes 148, 144 as normally, but also closes the low Fil, Cit hole closing lever 146 opened by the pressing of the Fit, Cit key 140. It will be understood that this instrument is also provided as indicated in Fig. l with a usual alternatively operable Fit, C# key lever 151 and with a low E, B lever 153.to be pressed by the little linger left hand. The tail of the little finger left hand E, B key lever 153 engages under a laterally extending arm, not specifically designated, secured to the rock shaft 158 which supports the little finger right hand low E, B key lever 142. The tail of the little finger left hand low Fit, Cit key lever 151 engages beneath a laterally extending arm, not specifically designated, formed on rock shaft 150 which also supports the little finger right hand Fit, Cit lever 140. With this arrangement it is possible to maintain either linger low Fit, Cil key lever pressed while the low note E or B is played by the little nger of the other hand thus making` light spring tends to move the Fit, Cit hole closing lever 156 to the open position, the lever 156, however, being normally held closed by the overriding bias of Fi?, C# lever which is normally raised. With the present construction the low E, B lever 142 is mounted on a rock shaft 158 which also has secured thereto the low E, B

tone hole closing lever 160 and a short arm 162. When low E, B lever Y142 is pressed shaft 158 is rocked, tone hole 148 is closed and tone hole 144 is closed by means of a connector 163 on the low F, C lever 136 which extends beneath and is engaged by the key lever 142. Arm 162 rocks, acting on a detent lever 164 to engage with and move the Fit, Cil tone hole covering arm positively to its closed position.

A further improvement consists in the substitution of the plate 52 for the usual ring which covers the thumb hole as best shown in Fig. 6. The substitution of the plate for the thumb hole rings has the following advantages: It makes for a nicer quality of sound on open G. It makes for surer manipulation since the thumb is always awkward, and it makes for a clearer change between notes.

A further improvement which may be mentioned consists in the manufacture of the bell with no protecting ring at the bottom. The reason for this change is to give greater resonance to the whole lower joint.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

l. ln a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system, having tone holes including first, second and third finger holes left hand and first, second and third finger holes right hand, the combination of a Bb tone hole, a Bb lever and pad movable between open and closed positions to close said hole, means biasing said Bb lever to the open position, a first finger hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever actuated by the first finger left hand from a normally open to a closed position, a plurality of other finger hole rings shiftable when actuated from normally open to closed positions, a oneway actuating connection between one of said plurality of rings and said-Bb lever adapted for the open position of said one ring to hold the Bb lever closed and for the closed position of said one ring to permit the Bb lever to open, and means overriding said first mentioned biasing means for yieldably maintaining said one ring open and said Bb lever closed.

2. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system having tone holes including first, second and third finger holes left hand and first, second and third finger holes right hand, the combination of a Bb tone hole, a Bb lever and pad movable between open and closed positions to close said hole, means biasing said Bb lever to the open position, a first finger hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever actuated by the first nger left hand from a normally open to a closed position, a plurality of other nger hole rings shiftaole when actuated from normally open to closed positions, means overriding said first mentioned biasing means for yieldably maintaining said first finger hole ring open and said Bb lever closed, and an interlocking device connected between said Bb lever and said first finger hole ring operative when the first finger hole ring is pressed to maintain said Bb lever closed.

3. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system having tone holes including first, second and third finger holes left hand and first, second and third finger holes righthand, the combination of a Bb tone hole, a Bb lever and pad movable between open and closed positions to close said hole, means biasing said Bb lever to the open position, a first linger hole ring and position of said` one ring to hold the Bbl lever closedv and for the closed position of said one ring to` permit' the Bb lever to open, meansV overriding said firstl mentioned biasing means for yieldably maintaining said one ring open and said Bb lever closed, and an interlocking device connectedl between said Bb lever and said thumb key operative when said thumb key is pressedV to maintain said; Bbv

lever closed;

4. ln a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system, having tone holes including first, second, and third linger holes left' hand and first, second and third linger holes right hand, the combination of a Bb torre hole, a Bb lever and pad movable between open and closed positions to close said hole, means biasing said Bb lever to the open position, a first finger hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever actuated bythe first linger left hand from a normally open to a closed position, a plurality of other finger hole rings shiftable when actuated from normally open tov closed positions, a one-way actuating connection between one of said plurality of rings and said Bb lever adapted for the open position of said one ring to hold the Bb lever closed and for the closed position of said one ring to permit the Bb lever to open, means overriding said first` mentioned biasing means for yieldably maintaining said one ring open and said Bb lever closed, a thumb hole and a thumb key shiftable between open and pressed positions pressed by the thumb in closing said thumb hole, and an interlocking device connected between said Bb lever and each of said first linger hole ring and said thumb key operative when one of said first linger hole ring and said thumb key are pressed to maintain said Bb lever closed.

5. In a Boehm system clarinet having a plurality of tone holes including lirst, second and third linger holes left hand and first, second and third-linger holes right hand, a Bb tone hole, a Bb tone hole closing lever movable between closed and open position, a relatively light springl acting on said Bb lever to move said Bb lever to open position, a thumb hole, a lever system for the clarinet including a thumb key shiftable between a normally open positionV and a pressed position when pressed by the thumbV in` closing the thumb hole, a normally raised first linger left hand hole* key, an interlocking device renderedV operative by finger actuation of one of said first linger hole left hand key and thumb key to maintainsaidBb lever closed, an actuating element having a one-way actuating connection with said Bb lever shiftable in one direction to move said Bb lever to the closed position, and a spring4 means acting upon saidactuating element overriding said light spring to hold the Bb lever closed. and operating keys associated with others of: said left hand and right hand linger holes arranged to be actuated by the finger closing of said holes, and means rendered operative by the actuation of any of said latter operating keys for moving said actuating element to permit the raising ofthe Bb lever.

6. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system having tone holes including first, second and third linger holes left hand and first, second and third finger holes right hand, the combination ofy a4 Bb tone hole, a Bb lever and pad movable between open and closedv positions to close said hole, means biasing said Bb lever to the open position, lirst, secondk and third linger left hand h'ole rings each having associated therewith a tone hole covering lever, separate first second and third supporting shafts forvthe respective first, second and third rings andlevers adapted to be rocked between 8 normally open and nger pressed positions, a one way actuating connection betweeny said third supporting shaft and saldi Bb lever adapted: for the-open position of said third shaft and ring toV hold the Bb lever closed andk for the pressed position o-f said third shaft and ring to permit the Bb lever to open, and spring means overriding said means biasing said Bb lever to the open position for maintaining said third shaft and ring open and said Bb lever closed.

7, In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system having tone holes including first, second and third linger holesl left hand and first, second and third linger holes right hand, the combination of a Bb tone hole, aV Bb lever and pad movable between open and closed positions to close said hole, means biasing said Bb lever tothe open position, a first linger left hand hole ring and associated tone holek covering lever, and a rock shaft on which said first ring and associated lever are mounted, a second linger left hand hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever, and a second supporting rock shaft for said second ring and lever, a third finger left hand hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever, and a third supporting rock shaft for said third ring and lever, a one-way actuating connection hetween said third supporting shafty and said Bb lever adapted for the open position of said third shaft and' ring to hold the Bb lever closed and for the pressed position of said third shaft and ring toy permit the Bb lever to open, spring means overriding said Bb biasing means for maintaining said third shaft and ring open, and said Bb' lever closed, and a one-way connection between saidv second shaft and said third shaft operative when the second ring is pressed' to move the third ring to the pressed position.

' 8. In a' clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system as defined in claim 7, the combination of' a Cit, Gi key lever and a tone hole covering lever shiftable from a normally raised closed position to a pressed tone hole position, anda one-way connection between said Ct, Gt key lever and said second linger left hand hole ring rock shaft adapted to move the second linger left hand hole' ring rock shaft to the pressed position upon movement of the Ct, Gt key lever to the pressed position.

`9; In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system as defined in claim 7, the combination of a`third`finger left hand Eb, Bb key lever and an associated tone hole covering lever shiftable from a normally raised tone hole closed` position to'a pressed tone hole open i position, and a one-way connection between said Eb, Bb

key lever and'sa'id second'nger left handhole ring rock shaft left hand adapted upon movement of said Eb, Bb

key lever to the pressed position to move said second linger left'hand hole ring rock' shaft to the pressed position.

l0. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system as defined in claim 7, the combination of first, second and third right hand linger hole rings, a rock shaft to which said rings are secured for movement between raised and finger pressed positions, spring means tending to rock said shaft and right hand finger hole rings to open position, and a one-way connection between saidright' hand linger ring rock shaft and said second linger left hand hole ring rock shaft adapted to move the second nger left hand hole ring rock shaft to the pressed position upon movement of said right hand linger hole ring'v rock shaft to the pressed position.

1`l. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system as defined in claim 7, the combination of an Ab, Eb key right hand little linger, and Ab, Eb key left hand little finger, a rock shaft having a one-way connection with each of said Ab, Eb keys and a one-way connection of said rock shaft with said second linger hole ring supporting rock shaft whereby the pressing' of either Ab, Eb key rocks the` connected rockshaft and the second' finger hole rock shaft left hand to the pressed position.

12. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system as defined in claim 7, the combination of an Ab, Eb key, a rock shaft having a one-way connection with said Ab, Eb key, a little finger left hand Cit, Gli key secured to said rock shaft, an arm on said second finger left hand hole ring supporting rock shaft engaging beneath said Cil, Gil key to provide a one way connection between said Cif, Gif supporting rock shaft and said second finger left hand hole ring rock `shaft adapted when either the Cl?, Gif key or the Ab, Eb key is pressed to rock the second finger left hand hole ring supporting rock shaft to the pressed position.

13. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system having tone holes including first, second and third finger holes left hand and first, second and third finger holes right hand, the combination of a register key, a first finger left hand hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever, and a rock shaft on which said first ring and associated tone hole covering lever are mounted movable between open and closed finger pressed positions, a second finger left hand hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever, and a second supporting rock shaft for said second ring and lever movable between open and closed finger pressed positions, a third finger left hand hole ring and associated tone hole covering lever, and a third supporting rock shaft for said third ring and lever movable between open and closed linger pressed positions, a Clt, Gif lever shiftable between raised and finger pressed positions, and a Clt, G# tone hole closing lever connected to be opened by the pressing of said Cif, Gil lever, and a one-way connection between said Cif, Git lever and said second supporting rock shaft whereby the second ring and its associated lever are moved with the Ct, Gif lever to said pressed position, and the finger pressing of the thumb hole and the first and third rings left hand and the Cit, Gli lever produces an improved fork Eb, and with the register key Bb.

14. In a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system having tone holes including first, second and third finger holes left hand and first, second and third finger holes right hand, the combination of a Cil, Git key lever and a tone hole covering lever connected for movement between a raised tone hole closing position and a finger pressed tone hole open position, an Ab,

Eb key lever and a tone hole covering lever connected for movement between a raised tone hole closing position and a finger pressed tone hole open position, and a one-way connection between said Ab, Eb key lever and said Cli, G# key lever adapted upon movement of the Ab, Eb key lever to the finger pressed tone hole open position to shift said Cil, Gif lever key and associated tone hole lever to the pressed Cit, Gif tone hole open position.

15. In a clarinet constructed in accordance With the Boehm system as defined in claim 14, the combination of a one-way connection between said Ab, Eb key lever and said Ci?, Git key lever which comprises a rock shaft on which said Cif, Gif key lever is secured shiftable between a Cif, Gil lever raised position and a Cif, Git lever pressed position, and cooperating abutments carried respectively by said Ab, Eb lever and said Cit, G3i key lever supporting rock shaft engaged by a movement of the Ab, Eb lever to the pressed position to shift said Cit, Gi? key lever supporting rock shaft and Clt, Gi? key lever therewith to the pressed position.

16. yIn a clarinet constructed in accordance with the Boehm system as defined in claim 9 having a low Eb, Bb key lever shiftable between a raised inoperative position and a pressed operative position arranged to be pressed by the little finger right hand, the combination of a second low Eb, Bb key lever connected with said first mentioned low Eb, Bb lever shiftable between a raised inoperative position and a little finger left hand pressed operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 391,479 Mahillon Oct. 23, 1888 750,935 Bercioux Feb. 2, 1904 1,546,153 Upton July 14, 1925 1,827,069 Ciciotti Oct. 13, 1931 1,926,489 Leblanc Sept. 12, 1933 2,036,492 Pedler Apr. 7, 1936 2,182,198 Christensen Dec. 5, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES The Celebrated Selmer Wood Wind Instruments, Alexander Selmer, 22 Condict Ave., Jersey City, N. I.; received April 24, 1909; page 22 relied upon. 

